Magnetic valve



Jam 33, W33. B. WALKER ET AL 31935929917 MAGNETIC VALVE Filed May 51,,1950 meme-saw 3, 1933 srr IBfl'AG-NETIC VALVE Application filed Hay 31,

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the typeoperating on the Diesel cycle and particularly pertains to anelectrically operated and controlled fuel valve for engines of thistype.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide agenerally improved magnetically operated fuel valve exceedinglysensitive to rapid changes of current, which enables it to operateefliciently with great rapidity on a minimum of energy and withnegligible energy losses and wherein the dissipation of the storedenergy existing upon the discontinuance of the electromotive force iscontrolled-so that it may be dissipated at a desired rate to vary theopen eriod of the valve subsequent to the discontinuing of theelectromotive force thereto.

In carrying this object into practice in order to render the valvesensitive to rapid changes of current we so construct the magneticstructure that the eddy currents are rendered negligible. To control theperiod that the valve remains open after it has been opened byenergizing the magnetic structure, we control the dissipation of theenergy which exists in the magnetic field subsequent to thediscontinuing of the electromotive force to the circuit by theinterposition of a variable resistance into the circuit. By varying thisresistance we change the rate at which the existing energy in themagnetic field is dissipated and therefore vary the time limit which thevalve remains open subsequent to the discontinuing of the electromotiveforce to the circuit.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the followingdescription and illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through avalve structure embodyingthe preferred form of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan section through the same taken on line VV of Fig. 1. I

I Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, generallyindicates a nagnetic valve structure which in this in- ;tance isillustrated as an injection valve for' :ngines operating on the Dieselcycle. It is 1990. Serial No. 158,739.

to be understood, however, that the invention can be embodied in valvesof any character.

The valve structure here illustrated comprises a cylindrical valve body11 having a central axial valve chamber 12 formed 1ongltudinallytherethrough and terminating at its lower end in a valve seat 14 in anozzle element 15. This nozzle element 15 is formed with an orifice 16which is controlled by a valve member 17 reciprocably disposed in thevalve chamber 12 of the valve body, and which cooperates with the valveseat 14 in controlling the discharge of fuel through the orifice 16.

The upper end of the valve body 11 is formed with a disk 18 concentricwith respect to the valve 17 and the chamber 12. Arranged on the valvebody 11 is a cylindrical housing 19 having a flange 20 at its lower endcomplementary to the disk 18. The housing 19 is secured to the disk 18through the medium of studs 21.

The upper end of the valve member 17 pro jects upwardly into the housing19 and is connected with a laminated armature 22 of the magneticstructure which we provide for operating the valve. The magnet of themagnetic structure is likewise laminated as illustrated. Vertical dowels33 are provided to prevent relative rotation between the magnet and thearmature as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The magnet is vertically reciprocable in the housing 19 and isinterposed between aspring and a cylindrical support 24. The annularwall of the latter slidably engages the inner periphery of the housing19. The bottom of this cylindrical supporting member 24 isfrusto-conical and extends downwardly and abuts against the uppersurface of the valve body 11 substantially at the center of the latter.The spring 25 maintains the magnet in engagement with the supportingmember. The supporting member and the magnet are therefore movablerelative to the housing. The reason for this is that we have found inactual practice that under varying conditions of fuel pressure Withinthe housing, the latter distorts and as it is essential to maintain themagnet and its ara-i or PIEDMONT, nanny n. KENNEDY, or any, came.

mature in definite relation to the valve seat, the permitting ofrelative movement between the housing and the magnet and its supportingstructure compensates for this distortion of the housing and the disk 18and enables the maintenance of the proper cooperative positions betweenthe valve and the valve seat.

Inasmuch as the center of the valve body remains rigid and is notdistorted, abutment of the supporting member 24 at the center of thehousing will enable the valve and its magnetic structure to remainstationary during any distortion of the housing 19 and the flange 18 ofthe valve body.

It will be noticed that the laminated armature 22 is disposed within thecylindrical supporting member 24 and is reciprocable therein, a slidingfit being provided between the inner periphery of the member 24 and thearmature so that the former will act substantially as a guide for thelatter.

In order to maintain the valve seated when the magnet is de-energized,we provide a spring 26 which is interposed .between an adjusting screw27 threaded in the upper end of the housing and the armature 22. Thisspring tends to yieldingly maintain the valve seated. The tension of thespring can, of course, be regulated by adjusting the position of theadjusting screw 27 so that the influence of the spring on the valve canbe adjusted to suit conditions.

The housing 19 is fitted with a conduit connecti-on 19a in order thatfuel under pressure may be delivered to the interior of the housing.This fuel is intended to pass through the valve chamber 12 and dischargefrom the orifice 16 when the valve 17 is opened.

We have found it desirable to filter the fuel delivered to the housingbefore it passes into the valve chamber 12. In order to accomplish thisthe upper end of the valve chamber 12 is counterbored and filteringmedium is in-. serted therein. In the present instance we haveillustrated this filtering medium as spaced layers of reticulatedmaterial between ,which is a layer ofwfelt or other preferable filteringmaterial. We have found this very advantageous in preventing foreignmatter from passing through the valve chamber 12 and clogging theorifice 16.

We have also provided in connection with the present valve a controllingmedium for controlling the time the valve remains open after theelectromotive force to the circuit of the magnetic structure has beendiscontinued. This medium comprises a variable resistance 30 interposedin the circuit of the magnetic structure as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that when the source of electromotive force to themagnetic structure is discontinued there will existan amount of storedenergy in the magnetic structure influencing the operation of the valveand tending to maintain thesame open. This stored energy can bemaintained a constant per cycle and it is apparent that by controllingthe disthe resistance 30 the valve will, regardless of engine speed,remain open for a constant period of time per cycle in addition to theperiod of time it is opened prior to the discontinuing of theelectromotive force to the magnet.

By changin the setting of the resistance 30, the rate of dissipation ofthe stored energy can be varied so as to increase or decrease the timeof opening of the valve subsequent to the discontinuing of theelectromotive force to the magnet.

We may find it desirable to render the resistance ineffective during theestablishment of the current and in order that the resistanceillustrate-d will have no effect on the establishment of the current wehave interposed a rectifier between the resistance and the ground. Thus,the resistance will only be effective in dissipating the stored energyin the magnetic field after the electromotive force thereto isdiscontinued.

In operation of the device, it is constructed and assembledsubstantially as illustrated and described and if it is in the form ofan injection valve as illustrated it is assembled on the cylinder incommunication with the combustion chamber and electrically connectedwith a control circuit for operation. When the voltage is impressed onthe valve, magnetic flux increases until the magnetic attrac tionexceeds the forces tending to seat the valve and the armature will thenbe influenced so that the valve will be unseated.

Should the housing distort through pressure variations therein, themanner in which the magnetic structure is mounted in the housing willcompensate for such distortion and enable the proper relative positionsbetween the magnetic structure, the valve and the valve seat to bemaintained so that the valve will operate efliciently under varyingconditions.

To adjust the time period which the valve remains open after theelectromotive force to the circuit has been discontinued, the variableresistance 30 may be adjusted. This, as previously described, will varythe rate at which the energy stored in the magnetic 3 From the,foregoing it is obvious t at we. 1

have provided an improved magnetic valve structure which will operateefiiciently under varying conditions and which will be sensitive torapid changes in current and wherein the time which the valve remains.open subsequent to the discontinuing of the electromotive force to thecircuit may be controlled either for metering or throttling purposes.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes may be made in its construction by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a fuel injection valve including .a housing, an electro-magneticstructure mounted within the housing and including a magnet and anarmature, su porting means supporting said magnet in t e housing andpreventing distortion of the housing from changing the relativepositions of the magnet and armature.

2. An electro-magnetic fuel injection valve for Diesel engines includinga' housing, a valve member operatively mounted in the housing andcontrolling the discharge of fuel therefrom and having an armaturemounted thereon, an electro-magnet reciprocably mounted in the housingand operatively associated with the said armature, supporting means forsaid magnet preventing distortion of the housing from changing therelative positions of the magnet and said armature.

3. An electro-magnetic valve including a housing, a valve memberoperatively associated with the housing and having an armature thereon,an electro-magnet reciprocably mounted in the housing and operativelyassociated with the valve armature for operating the valve, means forcompensating for distortion of the housing.

4. An electro-magnetic valve including a housing, a magnetlc structureincludin a magnet and armature, a valve reciprocaily mounted in thehousing and connected with the armature, means for yieldinglymaintaining the magnet of the magnetic structure in a definite positionrelative to the valve seat.

5. A magnetic valve structure including a valve and an electricallyinfluenced medium for operating the same, an electrical circuit foroperating said medium, and an adjustable reactance associated with saidcircuit for controlling the dissipation of energy existing subsequent tothe discontinuance of the electromotive force to said circuit.

6. A magnetic valve structure including a valve and an electricallyinfluenced medium for operating the same, an electrical circuit foroperating said medium, and an adjustable reactance associated with saidcircuit for consaid circuit for controlling the dissipation of energyexisting subsequent to the discontinuance of the electromotive force tosaid circuit, and means for rendering said resistance ineffective duringthe energizing period.

8. An electro-Inagnetic valve comprising a fluid tight housing, amagnetic structure including a magnet and armature disposed entirelywithin the housing, a valve member reciprocably mounted in the housingand connected with the armature, and means for yieldingly maintainingthe magnet of the magnetic structure in a definite position relative tothe valve seat of the housing.

BROOKS WALKER. HARRY E. KENNEDY.

